We should have won’ – Illinois loses to Maryland, 69-61

Thursday

Nov 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2007 at 8:11 PM

Illinois at Maryland basketball game story. WITH REPORT CARD.

John Supinie

Illinois coach Bruce Weber didn't scream to get his points across in the locker room after the Illini's 69-61 loss to Maryland in a Big Ten-ACC Challenge game Wednesday at the Comcast Center.
The first message -- "that we should have won,'' said senior forward Brian Randle -- was impossible when Randle, senior center Shaun Pruitt and junior guard Chester Frazier, the team's most experienced players, played more like newcomers they were supposed to carry. There was no denying it.
"The upperclassmen didn't do what they're supposed to do tonight,'' Randle said. "They didn't set the table, didn't play right, didn't play well. These younger guys did a great job, but the three of us need to step up every game. It's a wakeup call.
"It's frustrating, to be honest. We knew they were a good team. We felt they were beatable. I had a terrible game. There's no sugar-coating that. Chester didn't play well. Shaun came on a little later. The three of us, it's up to us to be an example. To not do that is hard, especially against a team that you feel you can beat.''
With Randle, Pruitt and Frazier combining for 17 points on 6-for-28 shooting, Illinois fell to 4-2 overall by losing to an ACC team for the second time this season. Illinois shot 33.3 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the line and couldn't shake its reputation as an offense struggling to score.
"Going into the season, the big question is are we going to make shots,'' Weber said. "We didn't make shots. You still have a chance to win the game. It's disappointing that we didn't play better. I'll be honest. I'm disappointed.
"You can say we competed. It's a tough place to play. That's not going to get you anywhere. Then we're going to be mediocre all year. I don't want to be mediocre. We have to see if they want to be mediocre.''
The Illini host Weber State on Saturday (4 p.m., Big Ten Network), but there's no chance this weekend to grab a meaningful win.
Pruitt had 10 points and eight rebounds, but the first-team preseason all-Big Ten pick was 4-for-16 from the field. Randle had two fouls before the first TV timeout and finished with seven points on 2-for-8 shooting and seven rebounds. He didn't blame the bad night on a bruised nerve in his left leg a week ago that forced him to miss most of one game and two more practices.
Frazier, a Baltimore native playing before his family for the first time, didn't score and finished with four turnovers.
"The upperclassmen, the focal point, the players on the media guide (cover), they're the guys who are supposed to carry you on a consistent basis,'' Weber said. "They didn't do it tonight.''
Junior guard Calvin Brock made his second start and finished with a team-high 13 points. Junior forward Rodney Alexander had 10 points and five rebounds despite playing only five minutes in the second half, presumably because of issues on defense.
When the team's high-profile players falter, "it's a tough challenge,'' Brock said. "We have some many young players. It's something a lot of teams are going through.''
One of those teams is Maryland, which improved to 5-2. The Terps, who started three sophomores and a freshman, were picked to finish sixth in the ACC, and this was considered a prime chance for the Illini to win one on the road against a power conference team.
"They're trying to figure it out,'' Weber said. "It's a chance to beat them. It's a chance to win a game. There's no doubt. It's a winnable game. They're a good team but not a great team. They have nice pieces. At the same time, it's disappointing that we couldn't have played better.''
Sophomore guard Eric Hayes scored a career-high 18 points to lead Maryland. Sophomore guard Greivis Vasquez, who entered with a 17.7-point average, scored five points on 2-for-14 shooting. Maryland won its first game this season against a power conference opponent.
"Illinois was an NCAA tournament team last year, and I fully expect them to be there again,'' Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We had something to prove. We had to prove that we could beat a good team, and I think that was on our minds tonight.''
A 14-4 run put Maryland ahead 53-46 with 8 minutes 24 seconds left. Illinois pulled within 62-60 with 1:15 left, but the Illini missed two free throws and four shots as Maryland pulled away.
NOTES: Illinois fell to 3-6 all-time in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, including three losses to Maryland. … In two games against the Terps -- including a loss last season in Assembly Hall -- Frazier was 1-for-12 with two points. … After playing five straight games away from Assembly Hall, the Illini have six of their next seven games inside the state line.
John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.
Illinois report card
Front court: D-
Forward Brian Randle made it clear that he didn't blame his bad night on an injury last week. He wore an elastic sleeve over his left calf after a bruised nerve knocked him out of one game and kept him out of two practice sessions. Center Shaun Pruitt must learn to deal with sagging defenses that keep an eye on him.
Back court: C
Calvin Brock is emerging as an offensive threat, but he admitted he still needs to brush up on defensive technique. Point guard Chester Frazier had a forgettable night in his first game in front of his family.
Bench: B
Trent Meacham, Mike Davis and Demetri McCamey provided the spark off the bench. Don't blame this ugly night of offense on these guys.
Overall: D
If Pruitt, Randle and Frazier play like this, it will be a long season. They've shown that so much more can be expected of them. If the Illini want to reach the NCAAs, they need a consistent level of performance from the three mainstays.

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